August 19, 2014

Training requirements must be completed before December 31 of each year. Based on NYC EIP rules and regulations, interventionists who do not meet annual training requirements by the end of the year may lose their ability to continue serving EI cases.
Early intervention free of charge trainings are now being offered by NYS DOH in conjunction with EI Learning Network (Just Kids Early Childhood Learning Center). For schedule and registration information, please visit the NYSDOH website: http://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/training.htm

July 14, 2014

Many children suffer with handwriting. There are multiple reasons explaining why a child unable to write legibly. Some of them physiological such as developmental delays/problems affecting vision, visual-motor, visual-perceptual and fine-motor components involved in handwriting. Also, underdevelopment of hand skills, muscle strength or parents/caregivers inability to address problem at the right period of time (child develops poor habit of holding writing instrument) affecting handwriting greatly. Simple solution to correct grasping skills (not mentioning proper positioning yet) is to use pencil grippers, but they are getting lost quickly along with pencils. Now, some companies, such as Lyra and Ticonderoga, started making pencils with ergonomic shape and natural grip zone, so child's fingers go into right position. Offset slide guards for the thumb, index and middle fingers support an optimal writing hold, even after sharpening. The special groove design makes a proper grip seem logical to a child. The large size of the pencil is perfect for small hands and for shading large areas. For every case we should keep in mind individual abilities, but these pencils with grooves seem to be a smart and simple way of teaching children to hold pencil efficiently and to improve handwriting.
See more Groove Pencils

May 14, 2014

Wendy Chung is the director of clinical research at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, which does both basic and applied science to serve people affected by autism spectrum disorders. She's the principal investigator of the foundation's Simons Variation in Individuals Project, which characterizes behavior and brain structure and function in participants with genetic copy number variants such as those at 16p11.2, which are believed to play a role in spectrum disorders.
Chung also directs the clinical genetics program at Columbia University. In assessing and treating kids with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities, she uses advanced genomic diagnostics to explore the genetic basis of neurological conditions. She thinks deeply about the ethical and emotional questions around genetic medicine and genetic testing.
(information from site TED.com)